Review of Down Royal action

Racegoers at Down Royal were treated to a performance of the highest order from Kauto Star.

The reputation of the 2007 Gold Cup winner took a couple of knocks at the end of his last campaign but he appeared back to his best in the JNwine.com Champion Chase.

Easing to the front approaching the penultimate fence, Ruby Walsh barely moved a muscle on the 2-5 favourite and he cruised home 11 lengths in front of Light On The Broom.

Trainer Paul Nicholls doubled up when Noland was a league apart from his rivals in the Killultagh Properties Ltd Chase.

Beaten favourite in the Arkle at Cheltenham, the 6-4 market leader relished this extra half-mile and travelled well within himself on the heels of the front-running Finger Onthe Pulse.

He took it up on the run to the second-last and came home 12 lengths ahead of Finger Onthe Pulse.

Northumberland Plate hero Arc Bleu was turned over at odds-on in the William Ewart Properties Handicap Hurdle.

Ruby Walsh gave his mount every chance and he touched down over the second-last disputing the lead with 14-1 shot Sole Bonne Femme.

However, he was probably done for a bit of pace over the minimum trip in this sphere and was beaten into third by Sole Bonne Femme, who was a length in front of Right Or Wrong at the line.

French import Sarteano (3-1) led at the second-last and stayed on well to beat Port La Chaine by three and a half lengths in the A.Bartlett & Sons (Airdrie) Ltd Maiden Hurdle, breaking his duck on these shores in the process.

Imaalhall got the better of a protracted duel with Rocheford Bridge to pick up the prize for the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle, while the Rainbow Telecom Handicap Chase went the way of 3-1 favourite Ross Accord, who gave Ruby Walsh a treble on the day.